Russian metals giant Norilsk Nickel plans to spend over 18 billion rubles to introduce a new technology of nickel refining at its unit Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company in the Murmansk region, Norilsk Nickel said in a statement. The project will allow the company to reduce operating expenditures and metals losses in the production process…

In September Zaporozhogneupor increased molded refractories output by 4% YoY. According to the company statement, it produced 8132 tons of molded refractories, including 3920 tons of chamotte wares, 3582 tons of magnesia wares, 629 of high-aluminous wares, as well as 5767 tons of chamotte-kiln wares. In January-September the works produced 34040 tons of chamotte wares,…

Russian precious metals producer Polymetal International may not pay special dividends in 2016 because of unfavorable market conditions, CEO Vitaly Nesis said. “As we’ve already said, the dividends will largely depend on dynamics of gold prices in the fourth quarter. The period’s cash flow will define the amount of free cash for special dividends. The…

The Verkhovnaya Rada of Ukraine has cancelled the 5% import duty on ferrous scrap. The new decree stipulates the zero imports duty instead of the current 5%. According to the industry committee head Victor Halasyuk, this is the second part of the help to the mining-metallurgical complex. “Our first step was to increase the export…

Starting with October 1, Metinvest has increased salary at its companies, even those in the Antiterrorist operation zone, on average by 5%. This is the second increase of wages this year. “All in all, this year the salary has increased by 15%. The most prominent employees will have their wages increased by 30%”, said the…

The miners of the state enterprise Selidovugol continue their struggle for their mines, decent labor conditions and salary. Now they have remembered 52 million tons of coal reserves, that the son of the ex-president Victor Yanukovich – Alexander – illegally took back in 2012. The Independent Miners Union has addressed the minister of energy and…

In January-September Ferrexpo produced 8.32 million tons of iron ore pellets, down by 5% YoY. According to the company statement, 65% Fe content pellets output went up by 3.7% YoY, to 7.81 million tons. 62% Fe content pellets production fell by 55% YoY, to 512.1 thousand tons. Ferrexpo own ore pellets production remained on the…

In January-September Zaporizhstal paid 2.2 billion UAH of taxes to the state budget, up from 1.9 billion UAH in Q1-3 2015. In particular the company paid 470 million UAH to the local budget, up by 60%, or by 175 million UAH YoY. “The main contribution of metal makers into the economy development is the effective…

Cargo railway transportation in Ukraine is on the brink of collapsing: there are no spare parts and cars and huge difficulties with fuel purchases. Ukrzaliznytsia problems greatly affect metal and mining companies. Ukraine has the highest port fees in the world, railroad transportation tariffs are constantly growing, and the gas transportation fees are very high.…

The city of Lisichansk hosted the meeting of the coalmining companies of the region. The main topic was the way out of the situation at the coalmining companies. In particular the meeting discussed salary debts, low state support and increase of the social tension among miners. As well as the ways of solving all these…

In January-September Zaporizhstal produced 2.94 million tons of steel, down by 1.3% YoY. According to the company statement, its pig iron output dropped by 1.3%, to 2.74 million tons, while that of rolled metal – went up by 0.1%, to 2.55 million tons. In September Zaporizhstal produced 337.1 thousand tons of pig iron, 346.4 thousand…

Chepets Mechanical Works develops the civil products output, in particular, in just 1 year its titanium welding wire has taken up 50% of the Russian market. “Our titanium wire is the next generation product, – ChMZ CEO deputy Yevgeny Gusev said. – The low hydrogen content (not more than 0.001%) and progressive techniques provide for…

The so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the Russia-supported terrorist organization in Donetsk region, plans to put into operation the electric-welded pipes works Metallist. According to the non-existing Ministry of industry and trade of DPR, the works will be put into operation on October 6. The works has been idle since 2014, after the town of Makeevka…

Steel smelting in Ukraine has been falling for 2 months in a row. Until August Ukraine saw increase in steel output. At the same time, average daily steel production went up a bit in September – to 64.7 thousand tons. While in August it totaled 63.1 thousand tons, 67 thousand tons in July and 61…

In January-September Ukraine produced 18.32 million tons of carbon steel, up by 7.4% YoY. Pig iron output went up by 11.75%, to 17.88 million tons, that of rolled metal – by 7.7%, to 16.13 million tons. Ukraine also produced 9.69 million tons of coke, up by 15.1% YoY, and 623.1 thousand tons of steel pipes,…